The travel expert’s 5 clever holiday hacks

A HOLIDAY can be stressful enough without having problems with your phone or no internet.

Thankfully, one travel expert shared his top tips, from how to fix broken headphones on planes to finding better WiFi.

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Tech travel expert Mark Saltzman shared some of his top tips with USA Today – here are some of the best.

Take photos of your boarding pass

Many airlines now accept boarding passes on your phone so you don’t have to print them out.

However, with the internet being patchy in certain places, it’s worth taking a picture of it rather than accessing it in your email – or you risk getting stuck.

He said: “Take a screenshot of your boarding pass on your phone to create an offline version, in case the internet connection is not good at the airport, you won’t keep everyone behind.”

One thing you should never do? Post this image on social media as it could result in your data being hacked.

Use the TV’s USB port to charge devices

One of the worst things to forget on vacation is a plug adapter that won’t charge your phones and tablets.

Luckily, there’s a way to do this in your hotel room – with the TV.

Mark explained: “If you left the house without your smartphone plug but still have the cable, plug it into the hotel room TV and it will charge your device.

“There should be a powered USB port on the side or back.”

Another trick is to take a travel adapter with you – but pack an extension cord.

Better WiFi on the second floor

While experts often warn travelers to be cautious when using public Wi-Fi, sometimes the needs have to be.

However, sometimes hotel lobbies are too crowded for you to use without having to sit on the floor.

Luckily, there’s a way to find a better seat – by changing floors.

He said: “Can’t find a place in the hotel lobby to surf the internet on your device?

“Most people don’t think about going to the second floor — sometimes referred to as the mezzanine — for lots of seating, quiet, and also power outlets.”

Make “broken” airplane headphones work

One of the most frustrating things that can happen on an airplane is finding that the headphones that come with it don’t work.

And with many travelers now using wireless headphones, you may not be able to hear inflight entertainment.

Luckily, there’s a clever trick to making them work: “Pull the headphones out of the audio jack just a little and you’ll hear the audio from the airline’s entertainment service.”

“Sometimes the connectors in these jacks don’t mate exactly.”

Faster phone charging on the plane

If your phone ran out of juice on a flight, there’s a way to charge it faster depending on which plug you’re using.

He said: “If you’re on a plane or at an airport where you can charge your phone or tablet via a USB port or a wall plug, always use your wall plug (if you have one) as it will charge your device two times can be up to three times faster than USB.”

However, be prepared to pay for it – some airlines charge for using the sockets.

Here are some more great travel hacks for your next vacation.

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